Tacoma, WA – On a sunny evening at Franklin Pierce Stadium, the Sounders U-23 capped off the regular season with a 5-1 win over the North Sound SeaWolves FC. The Sounders U-23 season included a record of 11-2-3, good enough for 36 points and first place in the PDL Northwest division.

The Sounders U-23 got on the board early with a goal from Michael Uyehara in the second minute. Darwin Jones controlled a bouncing ball at the top of the box and got behind his defender. Jones took his shot on goal, but it was saved by SeaWolves keeper Andrew Wildfong. The rebound came down to an open Uyehara who volleyed the ball first touch into the open net for the 1-0 early lead.

The SeaWolves looked to equalize in the 15th minute. A North Sound attacker broke free near the touchline inside the box and dribbled in toward goal. He found his teammate with a drop ball, but the pass was a little too heavy to handle, and the resulting shot went over the bar.

The Sounders U-23 were able to add a second goal in the 27th minute. Jones received a through ball from the back at the corner of the SeaWolves penalty area. He looked up to find a streaking Sean Morris open inside the box. Jones slid the ball past his man and behind Morris’s defender. Morris calmly cut the ball back to clear a path for his shot and beat the keeper with a low shot to extend the lead to 2-0 until half.

After 15 minutes of play in the second half, Jones finally got his goal. Jones received a bouncing ball at the top of the box. He took his defender left and ran on toward goal. The ball took a small bounce that allowed Jones to fire his shot from a tough angle. It hit just under the crossbar on its way into the goal for a 3-0 Sounders U-23 lead.

The SeaWolves were able to put a goal of their own on the board in the 64th minute. David Hill found himself unmarked in the box when a cross came in to find him. He was able to tuck his header into the far post past a diving Doug Herrick to make it a 3-1 game.

In the 82nd minute the Sounders U-23 put another one on the board with a goal from Zack Foxhoven. DeAndre Yedlin hit a bending through ball behind the SeaWolves defense. Foxhoven brought it down perfectly with his first touch in stride and then struck in past a relatively helpless Claudio Lazar for the 4-1 lead.

The Sounders U-23 put the game away for good with a late goal from Jamael Cox. After a scramble right in front of the SeaWolves goal, the ball squirted loose to Cox. He wasted no time and struck it with power into the open net for a 5-1 final.

Next up for the Sounders U-23 is the first round of the PDL northwest division playoffs. They will take on the Washington Crossfire FC at Franklin Pierce Stadium at 7:30 p.m.

It will be the third meeting between the two sides this season. The previous two matches were won by the Sounders U-23, having scored three goals and allowing none.

Join the Sounders U-23 for their first step in their quest for the PDL championship this Saturday evening, or follow the action on twitter @SoundersU23.